Power gear shifting mechanism



Dec. 14, 1943.

R. H. CASLER ET A| POWER GEAR SHIFTINC MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 8,1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gQuq/wrms I? erli Casler 5 ken voreclp r Dec. 14,1943. R. H. cAsLER ETAL 2,336,715

POWER GEAR SHIF'IINC MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 8, 1953 5Sheets-Sheet. 2

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POWER GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet3 rujr llll 94 &

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i I I E a a I I Q IQ-I I i I 000000 O i 8 L Q Dec. 14-, 19430 R. H.CASLER ETIAL POWER GEAR SHIF'IINC MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 OriginalFiled Nov. 8, 1933 gvwwwtom [if'asler awn mag Dec. 14, 1943. R. H.CASLER ETAL POWER GEAR SHIFTINC MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. s, 1933ger H Casler Step/zen, VQIGC/L Patented Dec. M, 1943 warren 2,336,715PDWER GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Roger H. Casler and Stephen Vorech,Elyria, Ohio, assignor to Bendix-Westinghouse Automotive Air BrakeCompany, Elyria, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original applicationNovember 8, 1933, Serial No. 697.193. Divided and this application March4, 1933, Serial No. 478,038

14 Claims. (Cl. 137-144) This invention relates to selective changespeedtransmission mechanisms and more particularly to a control apparatustherefor.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ power means for effecting achange in the ratio of transmission gearing and with such anarrangement, control mechanisms for said power means have been utilizedwhich have been conveniently located remotely from the transmission andreadily accessible to the operator. The

letter, when operating a motor vehicle equipped with such a structure,had merely to operate the conveniently-located control mechanism by a.

simple manual movement which thereby controlled the flow of fluid tosaid power devices to effect a change in the speed ratio of thetransmission gearing. In the constructions heretofore utilized, however;the control devices oper: able by the operator have taken the form ofrotatable valve mechanisms, switch contacts, push buttons and otherdevices, the operation or 'movement of whichwas totally dissimilar fromthe operation of the conventional gear shift lever which the powermechanism had replaced. Accordingly, an operator, accustomed tooperating a vehicle provided with the conventional man-' ually-operatedgear shift lever, was compelled to change completelyhis accustomedmethods of gear changing when it became necessary for him to operate avehiile equipped with the above referred to remotely-controlled powergear shifting device. This has been found to be a rather seriousdisadvantage, resulting in confusion and improper operation of the priorpower-operated change-speed transmissions.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to providea transmission gearing control mechanism so constituted as to avoid theabove referred to difficulties.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power-operated selectivegear-shifting mechanism so constructed and arranged that the'movemeritsof the same in effecting a control of the changing of the transmissiongearing simulate in every respect the corresponding movements of aconventional manually-operable gear shift lever to the end that anoperator may readily operate a vehicle equipped with such mechanism inthe same manner as if the vehicle were provided with a manually-operablegear shift.

Another object is to provide in a transmission gearing controllingmechanism having gears shiftable by power, a manually-operablepivotally-mounted controlling device located adjacent the operator andmovable in a manner simulating the movement of a conventional gear shiftlever for controlling the shiftable gears.

Still another object contemplates the proviv} sion, in a device of theabove character, of a remotely-positioned dummy gear shift leveroperable in a gear-shifting simulating manner to effeet the control ofpower to the power-operated gear-shifting mechanism, whereby an operatormay readily and efficiently control the necessary changes in the gearingratios of the transmission by manually moving a control member in thesame manner as that to which he had been accustomed when manuallyshifting the transmission gearing.

A further object is "to provide in a manuallycontrolled power-operatedgear-shifting mechanism, a novel control apparatus therefor including anarrangement insuring that the extent of movement of the gear-shiftingmember will be substantially proportional to the extent of movement ofthe control member whereby an exceedingly accurate control may beexercised by the operator over the shifting of the gears.

A still further object is to provide a fluid pressure-operated powergear-shifting mechanism having a manually-operable control member andmeans controlled thereby in such a manner that the movements of suchcontrol member to efiect a shifting of thetransmission gears will beresisted by a forcesubstantially proportional to the extent of movementof the gear-shifting member whereby a feel or reaction to shifting willbe experienced by the operator in a manner simulating the reactionencountered in manually shifting transmission gears in the conventionalmanner,

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of control apparatusfor a mechanism of the above character which shall be readily accessiblefor operation, shiftable in the conventional manner, capable of readyinstallation upon motor vehicle transmissions and of rugged constructionand economic cost.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fullyhereinafter from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, thatthe drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are notdesigned as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference beinghad for such purpose to the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic 'view, having certain parts in section, of agear-shifting control mech anism constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

Fig. 2' is a sectional view of the manually-operable control device;

Fig. 3 is a bottom'plan View, partly in section, of the control deviceof Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the parts of Fig. 2 taken along line 5-5 of saidfigure;

manner simulating the movements Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of thepower control mechanism of the present invention illustrating the sameassociated with a selective change-speed transmission;

Fig. 7 is an end view, partly in section, of a transmission and one ofthe power devices shown in Fig. 6 and taken along line 1-1 of saidfigure;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the main shifter bar of the transmissionand the power-operated devices associated therewith;

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view of the main shifter bar and shiftingmember carried thereby;

Fig. 10 is a side view, partly in section, of the power-operated mainshifter bar and illustrates the manner of connecting the shifting memberto an auxiliary shifter bar of the transmission:

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a control valve mechanism employed withthe present invention, and

' Fig. 12 is a side view of the valve mechanism of Fig. 11.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, a transmission control deviceembodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated thereinin connection with a selective change-speed transmission gearingmechanism [3 of any suitable type employing shiftable members forchanging the gear ratio between a driving and a driven shaft. As shown,such mechanism may be provided with a main shifter bar l4 carryingshifting member l5, which latter is adapted to select and move in alongitudinal direction, one of a plurality of auxiliary shifter bars l6,H or [8 to effect a desired gear relation. A power device i9 is providedfor moving the shifting member l laterally in opposite directions toselect a desired shifter 'bar and a second power device 20 is employedfor moving the said member and selected shifter bar longitudinally, andthese power devices are preferably operated by a fluid pressuredifferential. As shown, the said devices are operated by air underpressure from reservoirs 2| and 22 in a manner which will appear morefully hereinafter, it being expressly understood, however, that thefluid means herein disclosed has been shown by way of example only andthat any suitable fluid may be utilized.

Control means are provided by the present invention for manuallycontrolling the flow of fluid under pressure to the power devices i9 and20 for effecting a remote control of the operation of said devices andpreferably such control means are so constituted as to be readilyaccessible to the operator and operable in a of a conventionalmanually-operable gear shift lever, whereby the-movements of saidcontrol mechanism will be similar to the movements imparted to themahuallyeshiftable lever of a conventional selective change-speedtransmission. As shown, such manually-operable control mechanismindicated generally at 23 comprises a pivotallymounted manually-operabledummy gear shift lever 24 capable of lateral and longitudinal movementsin opposite directions in the same -manner as the correspondingmovements of a conventional gear shift lever. Preferably, such lateraland longitudinal movements of the lever 24 areguided by suitably shapedslots 25 formed 'in a cover plate 26 secured to a casing 2'! housing thesaid mechanism, the shape and positioning of the said slots conformingto the configuration necessary to properly guide the lever 24. A pair ofsimilar valve mechanisms 28 and 29 are provided for controlling themovement of the power device IS, the operation of these valve mechanismsbeing effected by lateral movement of the control lever 24, whileanother pair of valve mechanisms 30 and 3!, similar in construction tovalves 28 and 29, are provided for controlling the operation of thepower device 20, such latter valve mechanisms being operated uponlongitudinal movement of the control lever 24. Thus it will be seen, asheretofore stated, that lateral movements of the control lever 24 willeffect a selection of the desired auxiliary shifter bar and thatlongitudinal movements of the said control lever will effectlongitudinal movement of the selected shifter bar to accomplish thedesired gear relation, these operations taking place in a mannersimulating the corresponding movements of a conventionalmanually-operated gear shift lever.

In order that the degree of pressure supplied to the pressure device 20and hence the operation of the main shifter bar 14 moved thereby may beaccurately controlled, a fluid pressureoperated relay' or pilot deviceis provided, the operation of which depends upon the functioning ofvalves 30 and 3|. The energization of this relay effects a control ofthe fluid pressure admitted 'to the device 20 through the medium of avalve mechanism 33, the latter preferably being of the follow-up typeand having cooperating portions connected with the movable element ofthe relay and the main shifter bar I4 respectively, the constructionbeing such that when the valve is operated to admit fluid under pressureto the device 20, operation of the latter will effect a, lapping of thevalve mechanism and hence an interruption of the power fluid. In thismanner, the movement of the main shifter bar l4 may be readilycontrolled in a manner proportional to the extent of longitudinalmovement of the control lever 24.

With the above brief general description of the main constituent partsof the arrangement constituting the present invention, reference willnowbe had to the remaining figures of the drawings illustrating the variousparts of the system more in detail. Referring more particularly to Figs.2 to 5, the housing 21 of the control mechanism 23 is centrally formedwith a seat 34 for receiving the spherical end 35 of the control lever24, a suitable retaining nut 36 being provided for maintaining the end35 in position, the arrangement being such that the control lever ismounted for universal movement. The control lever is also providedadjacent its lower extremity with a curved cam surface 31 adapted, whenthe control lever is moved out of its central position, to operate oneor another of the valve mechanisms 23, 29, 30 or 3| through theintermediary of a rocker arm 38 suitably pivotally mounted upon a pin 33carried in lugs 40 formed integrally with the control mechanism casing.Each of the rocker arms 38 is provided at one extremity with a camroller 4| directly engaging the cam surface 31, and at the otherextremity with an adjustable screw 42 for direct engagement with thevalveoperating element.

Each ofthe control valves 28 to 3| is similar in construction and ispreferably of the pressurelapped type and so constituted as to exert aresistance to opening movement proportional to the applied force. Asshown, each of the valve mechanisms comprises a circular well 43 formedin the mechanism casing, each of said wells being provided with anexhaust port 44 communicating with a centrally-disposed exhaust chamber45;

Each well is also provided with an intake port 46 communicatingwithacentrally-disposed inlet chamber 4?, the latter communicating throughasuitable conduit 48 with the reservoir 2 i. The lower portion of eachvalve-receiving well is provided with an intake valve 49 normallyresiliently urged as by means of a spring 50 against a seat thusnormally closing ofi communication between the intake chamber 47 and anoutlet chamber 52 which communicates through a duct 53 and suitableconduits with one of the control devices associated with thetransmission. With reference to Fig. 1, the outlet ports 53 areconnected to conduits 54, 55, 56 and 5! for the valves 28 to 3|respectively. The exhaust chamber 45 communicates with the atmospherethrough a suitable conduit 58.

' anisms 30 or 3!.

Directly connected to the intake Valve 49 is an exhaust valve 59normally spaced from a seat 60 formed on a centrally-bored piston member6!. The latter is provided with communicating ducts 62 and 63 whichnormally provide communication between the exhaust chamber 45 and thechamber 52 through the normally open valve 59. In

. the normal position of the parts, opposed springs 64 and 65 act uponthe piston 6| in such a manner that the above referred to communicationbetween chambers 52 and 45 is established. The spring 64 is normallyconfined between the piston 6i and a cup 66, the latter constituting thevalveactuating element and being provided with a socket ti for receivingthe upwardly-extending central portion 68 of the piston iii, and abutton 69 on the top thereof for engagement with the screw 42.

From the above description, it will be apparent that all four of thevalves 28 to 3| inclusive are so positioned that the outlet chambers 52will all communicate with the atmosphere. Upon movement of the controllever 24 to the right, as shown in dotted lines on Fig. 2, lever 38 willbe moved clockwise about its pivotal mounting 39 to effect a movement ofcup 66 downwardly which through spring 64 will serve to move piston 6|until communication between chambers 52 and 45 is interrupted byengagement of the seat 60 with the exhaust valve 59. Further downwardmovement of the piston Bl will thereafter result in a slight opening ofthe intake valve 49, against the resistance of spring 50, whereuponfluid under pressure from the intake chamber 41 will be led through duct46 into the chamber 52 and through duct 53 to the conduit 51 shown inFig. 1. It will be apparent that as the pressure of the fluid in chamber52 builds up due to the opening of the intake valve, there will be atendency for piston 6! to move upwardly in opposition to the applyingforce. As soon as the force under the said piston, due to such pressureand the expansive effect of spring 65, becomes sufficiently great toslightly overcome the applying force, the said piston will move upwardlyslightly and spring 50 will effect a lapping of the intake valve 49.Such upward movement of the piston, after the'valve mecha nism has beenplaced in operation, enables a feel or reaction to be experienced by theoperator when manually operating the control lever 24, to the end thathe will be more readily able to accurately control the flow of fluidunder pressure to the pressure-operated devices associated with thetransmission. After a closure or lapping ofthe intake valve, it will bereadily understood from the above that the pressure within chamber 52will be proportional to the extent of move ment of rocker arm 38 andhence the extent of movement of control lever 24. Thus the degree-iently urged downwardly as by means -'H confined between the saidsleeve with, the central auxiliary shifter bar |1.-.

24 in either direction will effect operation of the oppositely-disposedvalves 28 and 29 while longitudinal movement in either direction in, anyof the longitudinally-disposed slots in the cover plate 26'will effectoperation of the valve mech- In order to lock the control lever 24 inneutral position or in the'extremities of the'longitudinally-disposedslots 25, the control lever 24 is provided with 'a control sleeve 10normally resilof a spring and a-ball or grip 12 positioned at the upperend of the lever. The-edges of the plate 26 defining-the slots 25 arepreferably slightly beveled as indicated at 13 and the lower end of thesleeve 10 is almost in engagement with said edges,-the movement ofsleeve 10 toward the latter being limited, however, by engagingshoulders .14.and 15 on the sleeve and control lever respectively. Withthis construction, it will be apparent that before movement of the lever24 in any direction may be effected, the operator must "first move thesleeve 10 upwardly against the tension of spring H, as by means'ofgrasping a cap 16 formed on said sleeve at the time the grip 12 isgrasped.- Preferably the casing 21 is provided with-a bracket 11 inorder to enable the control mechanism to be attached to the motorvehicle steering column below the steering wheel; this method ofassembly enabling the control device to be readily accessible to theoperator.

The power device l9, heretofore described: as elfecting lateral movementof the shifting member 15, is preferably of the double-acting ,type andincludes a cylinder .18 housing a piston 19, Figs. '6 and 7. The latterhas connected thereto a suitable piston rod 80, the lower extremity ofwhich is formed with a recess for receiving ball bearings 8| and 82between which an arm 83 of the shifting member l5 projects, theconstruction being such that longitudinal movement of the piston rodwill eiiect movement ofthe member l5 in one direction, while permittingthe latter to be moved transversely of the piston rod in substantiallyfrictionless manner. .Preferably a pair of precompressed springs 84 and85 are disposed upon either side of the piston 19 in order to bring thelatter-to mid position upon exhaustion offiuid pressure from either sideof the cylinder, this movement bringing the shifting member l5 also tocentral or neutral position wherein the end portion 86 thereof, Fig. 7;is positioned mid-way between the outermost auxiliary shifter bars l6and I8 and in engagement As shown; the springs 84 and 85 are initiallypre- .compressed when assembling the partsconstituting device-I9,thesame being confined between the cylinder heads and cups 84a. and'85arespectively. Thelatter are provided with outwardly-turnedcircumferential flanges 84b and 85?) respectively engaging correspondingflanges 84c and 850 upon cups 84d -and 85d, these'last mentionedelements being secured at their opposite ends to the cylinder 18 in anysuitable manner.- From. this construction, it will be readily observedthat when fluid pressure is exhausted from both sides of, device I9,-thesprings. 84 and 85 will quickly center the pistonlll, the engagement offlanges 84b with 8140 or 85b with He constituting a positive. limit stopfor insuring that under these-conditions the piston I9 will be preciselycentered and the shifterfinger 89 controlled thereby properlyneutralized.

From the above description of the power dey vice I9, itwill beunderstood that the parts nor- I operation of valve mechanism 28, theshifting member I5 will be moved laterally to effect selection of theauxiliary shifter bar I6 while fluid under pressure admitted to theupper part of cylinder" would have caused the shifting member I6 to haveselected the auxiliary bar I8.

Upon exhaust-of fluid under pressure from either side, however, theresilient means 84 and 85 will immediately return the shifting member I5to neutral position. -In the transmission mechanism disclosed, ithasbeen'assumed for purposes of illustration that the shifter bar I6 in itsreciprocating movements to the left and right, Fig. 1, wllleifectengagement of first and second gear respectively, while correspondingreciprocating movements of the auxiliary shifter bar I'I will effectengagement ofthird and fourth speeds. Reciprocation of the auxiliaryshifter bar l8 to the right, Fig. 1, will effect engagement of thereverse gear, these elements corresponding to the gear changes of awell-known commercial selective transmission. These elements, however,are for purposes of illustration only, it being understood that theinvention is equally well applicable to selective transmissionsinvolving other speed-changing combinations.

After selection of the desired auxiliary shifter bar by operating thepowerdevice I9, as set forth above, fluid under pressureis admitted tothe.

power device to control longitudinal movement of the shifting member I5and the selected shifter bar to effect the desired gear relation.Referring to Figs. 1, 6, 8, 9 and 10, the power device 20 preferablycomprises a double-acting cylinder having a piston 88 therein providedwith a pistonrod 89, which latter is extended to form 'the main shifterbar l4 and on which the shifting member I5 is mounted in such a manneras to be rotatable of said rod but longitudinally movable therewith.Upon either side of the piston 08, cylinder 81 is provided withopenings90 and 9I communicating with the'valve mechanism 33 through suitableconduits 92' and 93 respectively.

Preferably, as heretofore stated, the flow of fluid pressure to thepower device 20 is controlled by a fluid pressure-operated pilot orrelay device 32 and, as shown, Figs. 1, 6 and 8, such relay isconstituted by a double-acting cylinder 94 having areciprocating piston95 therein to which is secured a piston rod 96.- The piston-95 ispreferably resiliently biased to central position by means ofprecompressed springs 9'! in order that the said piston may beimmediately returned to centralio'r neutral position upon exhaustion offluid under pressure from either side thereof. The control of fluidunder pressure to the relay or pilot device is effected, 'as above setforth, by means of valves 30 and SI,

which latter are controlled by the longitudinal movements of-thecon-trol lever 24, the'construction being such that operation of the"valve .30 will admit fluid under pressure through co duit 56 to theright end of the relay, while operation of the valve 3| will admit fluidunder pressure through conduit 51 to the left end portion of the relay,see Fig. 6. Admission of fluid pressure to either end of the relay willeffect longitudinal movement of piston rod 96 and consequent operationof the valve mechanism 33 associated therewith to control the flow offluid under pressure to the power device 20 in a manner which willappear more fully hereinafter.

As heretofore stated, the follow-up valve mechanism 33 is formed ofcooperating elements carried by the main shifter bar I4 and the pistonrod 96 of the relay 32 respectively in order that the movements of theformer may be readily controlled by relative movement between these twoelements to effectan accurate control of the degree of pressure andhence the extent of movement of the pressure device 20. To this end, thevalve mechanism 33 comprises a pair of similarly-constructed valves 98and 99, Fig. 11, which are structurally quite similar to the valves 29to 3|, each of the first mentioned valves being housed within a casingI00 rigidly secured to the free end of the main shifter bar I4, Figs. 6and 8. The casing I00, see Fig. 11, is provided with a pair of wells IOIfor receiving the valves 98 and 99, the casing being provided with aninlet opening I02 communicating through a suitable conduit I03 with theauxiliary reservoir 22 for conducting fluid under pressure from saidreservoir to the outlet chambers I04, the latter being normally open tothe atmosphere through ducts I05 and I06 provided in piston I01. Thelast named duct normally communicates with the atmosphere through portsI08 positioned in the side wall of the wells IN. A combined intake andexhaust valve structure I09 having an intake valve element H0 isnormally resiliently urged as by means of a spring III, to such aposition that the intake valve contacts a seat II2 formed in the casingI00 to the casing I00 and having an arm I20 formed integrally therewithand connected in any suitable manner to the free end of the relay pistonrod 96, Figs. 7 and 8. From this construction, it will be readilyobserved that movement of the relay piston rod 96 in either directionwill, through arm I20, rock member II8 to operate one or the other ofvalves 98 or 99 for effecting closure of the exhaust valve H4 andopening of the intake valve H0, thereby permitting fluid under pressureto be. conducted from the auxiliary reservoir 22 through conduit I03 tothe proper chamber I04. In the case of valve 98, the chamber I04 isconnected through the conduit 92 to the left-hand end of the powerdevice 20, Fig. 6, while in the case of valve 99, the chamber I04communicates with the right-hand end of the said power device throughconduit 93. In either event, that is upon actuation of either of thesaid valve elements, as soon as fluid under pressure has been conductedto the-power device 20, the piston 88 and main shifter bar -I4 move inthe desired direction and move the valve casing Hill in a mannertoeffect a lapping of the operated valve. As soon as the said valve hasbecome lapped, further movement of the piston 88 will be arrested untiladditional fluid under pressure has been admitted to the relay 3 2 toagain efiect operation of the desired valve mechanism, it being pointedoutthat longitudinal movement of each auxiliary shifter bar is resistedby means of suitable spring detent devices l2l, Fig. 10. Thus the piston88 follows every movement of the relay piston 95, the latter therebyexercising an accurate control over the former.

From the above description, it will be apparent that in order to shiftinto first gear, it is only necessary to move the dummy gear shift lever24 laterally to the position a and then longitudinally forwardly,Fig. 1. The lateral movement will operate valve mechanism 28 permittingfluid under pressure to flow from reservoir 2| through conduits 48 and54 to the lower portion of power device l9 whereupon the latter, throughthe upward movement of piston rod 80, will move the shifting member ISin such a direction as to associate the operating end 86 thereof, Figs.7 and 8, with the auxiliary shifter bar IS. The

subsequent longitudinal movement of the control lever, after selectionof the shifter bar l6, will effect operation of the valve mechanism 30,thus permitting fluid under pressure to be conducted from the reservoir2| through conduits 48 and 55 to the right-hand end of the relay 32,Fig. 1. As the piston 85 of the latter moves to the left, as viewed inthis figure, the rocker member H8 will be operated through arm I28 toopen valve mechanism 99 thus establishing communication between theauxiliary reservoir 22 and the right-hand end of power device 20 throughconduits I83 and 93. Movement of the piston 88 will then shift the mainshifter bar l4 and shifting member i 5 carried thereby, to the leftthereby moving the selected shifter bar I 6 in a corresponding directionto establishfirst gear relation, it being appreciated that due to thefollow-up feature of valve 98, the extent of movement of the selectedshifter bar, against the resistance of the resilient device l2l, Fig.10, will be controlled by the degree of pressure within device 32, whichdegree of pressure is in turn controlled by the extent of movement ofthe control lever.

In shifting into second gear, the control lever is moved longitudinallyin the opposite direction from that occupied above, which movement willcause the shifter bar IE to be correspondingly shifted. When the controllever is initially moved rearwardly, the valve 30 will be moved toexhaust position by means of springs 64 and 65 whereupon the relay 32will be exhausted and the springs 87 associated therewith will quicklybring the piston 85 of said device to central position. It willbeappreciated that as the latter movement occurs, the valve rockinglever H8 will be moved in a direction opposite to that occupied above,to exhaust the right-hand end of device 20 through valve mechanism 99and to operate valve mechanism 98 to communicate the left end of device28 with the auxiliary reservoir. The piston 88, main shifter bar l4 andthe auxiliary shifter bar I 5 will thereupon be moved to the right,Fig. 1. If the control lever is arrested in its longitudinal movementintermediate its extreme positions, that is, before actuation ofvalve3|, the shifter bars l4 and IE will be returned to and will remain incentral position due to the lapping and exhausting of valve 88. Assoonas-valve 8| has been operated, however, by continued rearwardlongitudinal movement of the control lever, fluid under pressure will beconducted through conduits 48 and 51 to the left end of the relay 32whereupon the reverse of the above described movements of the relay andpower device will be efiected, and second gear relation will beestablished.

When shifting to third gear, the control lever 24 will be moved back'tothe normal neutral position indicated in Fig. 1 where the shiftingmember l5 automatically selectsthe central auxiliary shifter bar ll.During this movement of the control lever, the valves 31 and 28 will. beexhausted in the order named, the first enabling the cen-,

tralization of pistons 95 and 88 and the second enabling thecentralization of piston 18 by 'n eans of springs 84 and 85. Thereafter.forward move, ment of the lever 24 will effect operationof valve 30 toadmit fluid under pressure to the right end of relay .32 which in turnwill operate .valve 98 to admitfiuid power to, the corresponding end ofdevice '20. The shifter bars l4 and-ll will thereupon be moved to theleft, relation established.

In order to shift into fourth gear, it is only necessary to effect a,shift of the bars I! and H in the opposite direction which is enectedbymove:- ing the control lever 24 irearwardly to exhaust'" The; re ay .32n

valve 30 and operate valve 3!.- device 20 will thereupon Ice-movedthe'right in. a manner similar to that above describedwhen shifting fromfirst to second gear. Should it be desired to. shut i'romneutrarpositionto reverse, the control lever is moved laterally to the right, as shown.at b,'r'igl 1, to operate valve 29 to admit nuidunder pressure to thetop of device is through-conduits 48 and rod fllkwill moveshir'tin'gmembe gltudinal movement of the control lever 24 will operatevalve 3| thereby admitting iiuid power to the left end of relay '32,moving the piston 85 therein to the right, and causing a correspondingmovement of piston 88 of power device 20 together with shifter bars, l4and similar to that described above.

There is thus provided by the present invention a novel remote controlfor a selective changespeed transmission, so constituted that the gearratios are emclently varied by fluid power through the agency of amanually-operable control element or dummy gear shift lever operable-ina manner simulating the movements of a convenl8, in a manner tionalmanually-operable gear shift lever, Such permi s an operator, accustomedan arrangement to the manual operations necessary I01 gear shifting, toreadily and emciently operate a trans-.- mission equipped with thepresent invention. The provision of the pressure-lapped valves directlycontrolledby the movements of the control lever enables a feel orresistance to be encountered by the operator, while the provision of thefluid pressure relay and valve mechanism controlled thereby permits anexceedingly accurate control over the movements of the longitudinalshifting power device, to the end that the various gear relations may beestablished without clashing. The fluid pressure relay and thelaterally-shifting power device are both provided with opposedprecompressed resilient devices, such a construction enabling a rapidcentralization of the actuated parts 1; ereof and hence quick movementof the shift- Fig. 1, and third gear 18- and 'le'su'ch that the portion86 thereof selects the auxiliary shifter I bar 18, Figs. 1 and 8.lhereaiter rearward loning member to neutral position. This arrangementinsures the required neutralization ofthe gears of the transmission whenshifting from one gear to another, and especially is this featuredesirable when double-clutching, a phase of the gear-changing operationsso generally practiced when shifting from one gear ratio to another.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein,it is to be expressely understood that the same is not limited theretobut is capable of being embodied in various forms, as well understood bythose skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of theinvention." Reference will, therefore, be had to the appended claims fora definition of the limits thereof.

This application is a division of our application filed November 8,1933, Serial No. 697,193, entitled Power gear shifting mechanism.

What is claimed is: v

1. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casing anda pair of control valve mechanisms mounted in said casing each providedwith inlet and exhaust valves and a pressure responsive element foractuating said valves, or means for selectively actuating one or both ofsaid valve mechanisms including a lever mounted on said casing foruniversal movement with respect thereto, and a resilient connectionbetween said lever and each of said elements, whereby the degreeorpressure delivered by each valve mechanism is proportional to thedegree of movement of said lever.

2. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casing anda pair of control valve mechanisms mounted in said casing each providedwith inlet and exhaust valves and a pressure responsive element movablefor actuating said valves, of means for controllin the operation of saidvalve mechanisms separately or concurrently including a lever mounted onthe casing for universal movement with respect thereto and operable inone plane for actuating one of the valve mechanisms and in another planefor actuating the other valve mechanism, and means cooperating with thelever and pressure responsive elements including a resilient connectionbetween the lever and each of said element for so proportional to thedegree of displacement of said lever in said second named plane, andmeans for connecting said lever and members.

4. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve havin a casing anda pair of self-lapping valve mechanisms mounted therein provided withmovement with respect thereto and operable for actuating one or both ofsaid members whereby the pressure delivered by one or both of said valvemechanisms is substantially proportional to the corresponding degree ofmovement of said control lever, and means for connecting said lever andmembers.

5. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casingprovided with a plurality of separate control valve mechanisms of theselfcontrolling the pressure delivered by each of said valve mechanismsthat the delivered pressure is substantially proportional to the degreeof movemerit oi. said lever in one or the other of said planes.

3. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casing anda'pair of control valve mechanisms mounted in said casing each providedwith inlet and exhaust valves, movable pressure responsive elements foractuating said exhaust valves and movable members resiliently connectedtherewith for controlling the operation or said valves by said pressureresponsive elements for controlling the degree of pressure delivered bythe valve mechanism in accordance with the degree or movement of saidmembers, of means for controlling the operation of said membersincluding a control lever pivotally mounted on said housing'foruniversal movement with respect thereto operable in one plane to actuateone of said members and control the corresponding valve mechanism toefiect the delivery of a pressure substantially proportional to thedegree of displacement of said lever and operable in a second plane tocontrol the actuating member of the other valve mechanismto control thedelivery by the latter of a pressure substantially lapping type eachprovided with inlet and exhaust valves, a pressure-responsive member forcontrolling the operation of the valves, a manually operable element foractuating the pressure responsive member and a resilient operatingconnection between the element and member, 01 means for selectivelyactuating said elements for controlling the operation of thecorresponding valve mechanisms including a lever pivotally mounted foruniversal movement with respect to the casing and means associatedtherewith for efiectlng an operating connection between said lever andelements for effecting operation of any selected valve mechanism oncorresponding movement of said lever.

6. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casingprovided with a plurality of separatecontrol valve mechanisms of theselflapping type each being provided with inlet and exhaust valves, apressure-responsive element for controlling the operation of the valves,a manually operable member for actuating the pressure-responsive elementand a resilient operating connection between the element and member, ofmeans for selectively actuating said members for controlling theoperation of the corresponding valve mechanisms including a leverpivotally mounted for universal movement with respect to the casing andmeans associated therewith for effecting an operating connection betweensaid lever and members for effecting operation of at least two of saidvalve mechanisms at the same time on movement of said lever.

"I. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casingprovided with a plurality of separate control valve mechanisms of theselflapping type each provided with inlet and exhaust valves, 2.pressure-responsive element for controlling the operation of the valves,a manually operable member for actuating the pressure responsive elementand a resilient operating connection between the element and member, ofmeans for V selectively and sequentially actuating at least two of saidmembers for controlling the operation of the corresponding valvemechanisms including a lever pivotally mounted for universal movementwith respect to the casing and means associated therewith for effectingan operating connection between said lever and at least two of saidmembers at the same time for effecting operation of said two valvemechanisms on corresponding movement of said lever.

8. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casingprovided with a plurality of separate control valve mechanisms of theselflapping type serially arranged in the casing and each provided withinlet and exhaust valves, a pressure-responsive element for controllingthe operation of the valves, a manually operable member for actuatingthe pressure-responsive element and a resilient operating connectionbetween the element and member, of means for selectively actuating saidmembers for controlling the operation of the corresponding valvemechanisms separately and for controlling any adjacent pair of membersand the corresponding valve mechanisms concurrently including a leverpivotally mounted for universal movement with respect to the casing andmeans associated therewith for effecting an operating connection betweensaid lever and members.

9. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casingprovided with a plurality of separate control valve mechanisms of theself-lapping type each provided with inlet and exhaust valves, apressure-responsive element for controlling the operation of the valves,a manually operable member for actuating the pressure responsive elementand a resilient operating connection between the element ber, of meansfor selectively actuating any one of members for controlling theoperation of the corresponding valve mechanism individually and foroperating any two adjacent members concurrently for eiiecting concurrentoperation of the corresponding control valves including a leverpivotally mounted for universal movement with respect to the casing andmeans associated therewith for eilecting an operating connection betweensaid lever and members.

10. The combination in a fluid control valve having a casing pi'ovide fiwith a plurality of separate ccntroi valve rnechanisr oi theself-lapping tyne serially arranged in the casing and each provided withinlet and exhaust valves, a pressure-responsive element for controllingthe operation of the valves, a manually operable member for actuatingthe pressure-responsive element and a resilient operating connectionbetween the element and member, of means for selectively actuating saidmembers for controlling the operation of the corresponding valvemechanisms including a lever pivotally mounted for universal movementwith respect to the casing, means associated therewith for effecting anoperating connection between said lever and members, and meansassociated with the casing for guiding the movements of said lever forselectively efiecting individual operation of any one of said valvemechanisms.

11. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casingprovided with a plurality of separate control valve mechanisms of theself-lapping type serially arranged with respect to said casing and eachprovided with inlet and exhaust valves, a pressure-responsive elementfor controlling the operation of the valves, a manually operable memberfor actuating the pressure-responsive element and a resilient operatingconnection between the element and member, of means for selectivelyactuating said members for controlling the operation of thecorresponding valve mechanisms lncluding a lever pivotally mounted foruniversal movement with respect to the casing, means associatedtherewith for effecting an operating connection be tween said lever andmembers, and means carried by said casing for guiding said lever wherebysaid lever may be moved to effect selective operation of any one of saidmembers and sequential operation of the members of any two adjacentvalve mechanisms.

12. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casingprovided with two pairs of oppositely disposed control valve mechanismsof the self-lapping type, each valve mechanism being provided with inletand exhaust valves, :3. pressure-responsive element for controlling theoperation ofthe valves, a manually operable member for actuating thepressure-responsive element and a resilient operating connection betweenthe element and member, of means for controlling the operation of saidvalve mechanisms including a lever pivotally mounted on said casinghaving a connection with said members and adapted on movement in oneplane for actuating one or the other of the valve mechanisms of one ofsaid pair and operable in an other plane for operating one or the otherof the valve mechanisms of said other pair, and means carried by thehousing for guiding said lever whereby said lever is'operable in firstone plane and then in the other plane to effect sequential operation ofone of the valve mechanisms of each pair.

13. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casingprovided with a plurality of separate control valve mechanisms of theselilapping type each provided with inlet and exhaust valves, apressure-responsive element for controlling the operation of the valves,a manuaily operable member for actuating the pressureresponsive elementand a resilient operating connection between the element and member, oi

means for controlling the operation of said valves selectively operatingone or more than one of said valves at the same time including a. leverpivctaiiy mounted with respect to said casing for universal movement andhaving a connection with said manually operable members, and meansassociated with the casing defining neutral and valve operatingpositions for said lever including means for maintaining said lever inany one of said positions. I

14. The combination in a fluid pressure control valve having a casingprovided with a plurality of separate control valvemechanisms of theself-lapping type adapted to supply fluid pressure to any one of aplurality of fluid pressure operated devices and provided with inlet andexhaust valves, 2. pressure-responsive element for controlling theoperation of the valves, a manually operable member for actuating thepressure-responsiveelement and a resilient operating connection betweenthe element and member, of means for controlling said valve mechanismsfor rendering them effective for supplying fluid pressure to one or morethan one of said devices at the same time including a lever pivotallymounted for movement with respect to said housing having a connectionwith said members and having a neutral position and movable from saidneutral position to other positions to effect operation of one or morethan one of said valve mechanisms at the same time to supply fluidpressure to one or more than one of said devices, and means associatedwith said casing for maintaining said lever in any one of said operativepositions.

ROGER H. CASLER. STEPHEN VORECH.

